By Months: Lauri Laats
Total Months: 19
Fully Profiled: 19
10.2025
39 Speeches
The legislative focus is aimed at filling regulatory gaps, specifically by demanding, through an interpellation, the assurance of legal and technical regulation for the safe use of minimopeds. Additionally, priorities include opposing the enacted car tax and promoting alternative tax laws (a bank tax, reduction of VAT on foodstuffs).
09.2025
160 Speeches
The primary objectives include amendments to the Law of Obligations Act (simplifying home loan refinancing, changing the terms of early repayment, and considering the reliability of mortgage holders), inquiries regarding regional and agricultural policy, and draft bills concerning youth employment and regional development. Emphasis is placed on the necessity of faster procedures and comprehensive impact assessments, and the draft legislation is sought for the second reading and subsequent refinement.
06.2025
83 Speeches
The main objectives include various bills and amendments: the regulation of end-of-life declarations (living wills), palliative care, healthcare funding and specialist waiting lists; energy policy (specifically the ENMAK framework) and green energy issues; the regulation of quick loans (payday loans) and balancing consumption; halting e-voting; amending the Public Libraries Act; and numerous interpellations and motions of no confidence. The speaker’s position is partially characterized by voting against the bills or submitting rigorous amendment proposals, alongside seeking general debate and necessary corrections.
05.2025
82 Speeches
Key Focus Areas: Amendment of ENMAK and the legislative treatment of issues related to oil shale; the draft bill on organizing a referendum and extensive discussion; issues concerning regional and land tax regulation; interpellations and involvement in the work of committees. The objective is the adoption or amendment of draft legislation and a broad-based debate among the populace.
04.2025
90 Speeches
Legal priorities: focusing on changes to the car tax and the discussion surrounding the bank tax; promoting amendments to the Law of Obligations Act aimed at enhancing consumer competition; submitting draft legislation and demanding transparency in negotiations between the Riigikogu and the government, along with the establishment of a commission to investigate e-elections; and representing strong initiatives for bills related to energy and food prices.
03.2025
17 Speeches
The legislative focus is centered on the draft bill concerning the regulation of political culture and the improvement of its procedural handling. The aim is to thoroughly consult on the bill before its adoption, and, if necessary, to withdraw and resubmit it. Discussions also cover amendments to the Rules of Procedure and Internal Rules Act, the role of special committees, and the necessity of legal analyses (specifically regarding the ERJK and restrictions). Additionally, inquiries have been submitted to the Prime Minister, alongside demands for answers intended to increase the transparency of legislative activity.
02.2025
67 Speeches
He/She initiates and discusses several bills and interpellations, including: a draft decision by the Riigikogu (Parliament) to form an investigative committee to examine the security of e-elections; an impact analysis of social media on youth; organizing a referendum on the issue of electricity production from oil shale; a draft analysis concerning the funding of the counseling line for care and school psychologists; and discussions regarding ENMAK and the intermediate and final prices of energy. He/She is an initiator of both Ethereum-related and socio-political issues, an opposition figure, and critical of the government.
01.2025
66 Speeches
Priorities: the draft amendment to the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Health Insurance Act; the draft Motor Vehicle Tax Act and improving the transparency of the state budget; interpellations and amendment proposals and their adoption or referral to the second reading; the planned two- or three-tier debate and the necessity of finding a path toward consensus. Throughout this same period, emphasis is placed on the importance of enhancing the transparency and clarity of both the budget and legislative amendments.
12.2024
105 Speeches
Linking the expense allowances and the salary and performance of Riigikogu members through 2–3 draft bills (524, 498 OE; 504 SE), alongside the draft bill on the transparency of ministers' representation expenses. This involves the transparency of representation expenses and schemes for salary payment based on work contribution (85–100% scales; 70% and 50% thresholds)—including specific indicators and tiers. Discussions are anticipated during the second reading, and various systems (Belgium, Sweden, Austria, etc.) are being evaluated comparatively. He/She stresses the necessity of incorporating proposed amendments and the efforts required to achieve a modular and transparent solution throughout the entire legislative framework.
11.2024
114 Speeches
The legislator's priorities include discussing the impact of VAT and notary fees, along with interpellations and proposed amendments. They wish to establish an investigative committee for Rail Baltic and elevate parliamentary cooperation and transparency to a significant status. In response to criticism, they stress the need to strengthen fundamental budget laws and the vision for input-based budgeting, incorporating various procedures and solutions. Attention is paid to the quality of omnibus bills, and there is a desire for discussion and consensual procedures. The legislator sees the necessity for thorough oversight and the drafting of conclusions, emphasizing that studies and reports must be mutually understandable to the Riigikogu (Parliament).
10.2024
72 Speeches
Main legislative bills and inquiries: Bill 507 (the omnibus bill covering amendments in the health and social sectors), Bills 510 (and 511), and inquiries concerning Tartu Agro, the financing of the Health Insurance Fund (Tervisekassa), and the transparency of budget explanations. They serve both as the proposers of these bills and as their critics, demanding either outright rejection or comprehensive analysis. They have also submitted questions and requested short or extended recesses to confirm or re-evaluate the planned changes.
09.2024
45 Speeches
Key priorities: lowering the VAT on food; drafts for amending health and occupational safety legislation; and monitoring health insurance. This also includes the review of energy and green transition laws (offshore wind farms, onshore wind farms, subsidies), and the role of the Health Insurance Fund in sickness benefits. The need for more thorough engagement with coordination rounds and interest groups, as well as updating the legislative drafts, has been emphasized.
07.2024
4 Speeches
The Legislative Priority involves suspending or amending the bill's proceedings: amendments have been submitted, along with a review of the legal analysis; emphasis is placed on the necessity for changes following the President's decision, with the objective being to avoid implementing the car tax and to identify superior solutions for balancing the budget.
06.2024
45 Speeches
The main objective is the thorough deliberation of draft legislation and the review of proposed amendments. This requires high-quality explanatory memoranda and analyses, and the intention is to involve experts and allies. Furthermore, there are plans to establish a Riigikogu (Parliamentary) investigative committee to clarify the circumstances related to the Rail Baltic project. The process also addresses the procedure and timeline for handling the bills, and there is opposition to rushing the process.
05.2024
46 Speeches
The main legislative bills and issues include: the temporary introduction of the bank tax, resolving unfair tax structures (tax wedges), and the discussion of bills related to opposing the sugar tax or dealing with ambiguous taxation; matters concerning subsistence benefits and funding for extracurricular activities; support and credit mechanisms for the renovation of the housing stock and apartment associations (HOAs); the regulation of permits for offshore wind farms and the broader theme of the green transition; and topics concerning the availability of materials for presentations by the Riigikogu Board and ministers, and the quality of the resulting discussion.
04.2024
18 Speeches
The legislative focus includes Bills 351 SE and 344 SE, e- and m-voting (e-elections and mobile voting), their supervision, and security. It emphasizes the need for faster decision-making and transparent mechanisms, and discusses the necessity of paper ballots for election oversight. In terms of legislation, the focus continues on terminating the universal service and finding alternatives, tax policy (motor vehicle tax, bank tax), and the ongoing discussion regarding income tax reform.
03.2024
16 Speeches
Primary attention is directed towards inquiries and legislative initiatives: topics concerning the bank tax and rental income tax, the objection to the car tax, and the discussion of biofuel policy and energy sector reforms; emphasizes the need to receive precise answers regarding the government's plans and proposals concerning the financing of the green transition and energy performance contracting; expanding the energy structure, accelerating foreign interconnections, and developing onshore wind and solar capacity.
02.2024
10 Speeches
Key legislative priorities: interpellations to the Prime Minister concerning the economy and price increases; reviewing and accelerating the implementation of the initiative to terminate the universal service; increasing funding for the road maintenance plan and protecting the financing of local governments. Emphasis is placed on the urgent progression of these measures and the rapid processing of draft legislation; focus on inflation and the impact of taxation reaching the people.
01.2024
6 Speeches
It primarily addresses topics related to interpellations and draft legislation: submitting inquiries on climate and housing fund issues, and handling bills concerning income tax and rental tax. The focus is on the scrutiny of government plans, reports, and cooperation decisions, and demanding substantive answers, rather than merely introducing new laws.